Jackson Resets 200m Record as Track and Field Competes at Penn State and George Mason

Jan 26, 2013

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – A day after resetting her school record in the 60m dash, UMBC sophomore sprinter Mercedes Jackson (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) broke her own record in the 200m dash, Saturday afternoon at the Penn State National Invitational.

Already holding the record, which she set at 24.00 at the 2012 America East Championships, Jackson won the 200m dash at the national meet with a time of 23.98. In addition to her indoor records, Jackson owns both the 100-meter and 200-meter records in the outdoor events.

Jackson was not alone is setting new bests as six other Retrievers set all-time bests in Pennsylvania.

For the women, sophomore Sarah Daly (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) jumped to second all-time in UMBC history in the 800m run. Daly finished second in the event at Penn State and qualified for the ECAC meet with a time of 2:14.32.

In the shot put, three-time America East indoor champion Amanda Deller (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) upped her career-best with a heave of 15.00m (49'2.50), which ranks as the top throw in the conference this season. Deller ranks second at UMBC in the weight throw as well, trailing only NCAA champion and three-time Olympian Cleopatra Borel.

In the mid-distance runs, junior Kirsten Jones (Brentwood, Tenn./M.L.K. Magnet) and sophomore Paulette Fogle (Washington, D.C./Bishop McNamara) each set season-best times on Saturday. Jones finished 12th in the 400m run with a time of 57.32 and Fogle placed third in the 500m run with a time of 1:14.98.

The Retriever men were not outdone, however, as four Retrievers made a move in the school's all-time records.

In the sprints, senior Dennison Long (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt/FIU) jumped up a spot to fifth in the 200m dash with a time of 21.86 and finished second in the event.

It was the distance runners, though, that made the biggest moves. Freshman Andrew Keresztes (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Port Jefferson) earned third place in the 1,000m run and moves to seventh all-time with a time of 2:29.76. Sophomore Eric Schuler (Columbia, Md./Reservoir) and junior Jake Albino (Hampton, N.Y./Minisink Valley) also had career days, competing in the 3,000m run and mile run, respectively. Schuler finished fourth and now ranks fourth with a time of 8:30.37 while Albino took tenth place and ranks sixth at UMBC with his time of 4:16.51.

Several Retrievers also competed at the Patriot Games held by George Mason on Saturday, with personal and season-bests falling as well.

Freshman Angel Bucci (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) continued the line of successful distance runners, placing 12th in the mile at George Mason but with the fifth-fastest time in UMBC history (5:11.01.)

Several throwers also had a successful day, with freshman Nneoma Edokobi (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery) taking tenth in the weight throw with a personal-best toss of 13.15m (43'1.75").

UMBC returns to competition next week as the Retrievers head back to New York for the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. The two-day competition begins on Friday, Feb. 1 and continues through Saturday.